Those first few weeks post-contest ...

[SteelWeaver]

For those with competition experience, I'm wondering what you do training and diet-wise in the first few weeks post contest?

I, for one, intend to take the entire first week off from the gym AND from cardio, and use my evenings for some serious social catching-up. Naturally, that socialising is going to be taking place at restaurants, and every friend and their neighbour has, for some reason, decided that they want to be the one to get me drunk

On that score, they're going to be disappointed, because I don't think I like drinking anymore - I'm used to being sober now, and thinking of all those empty calories chills me. Maybe a glass of wine...

Food-wise, I don't want to be a victim of the "rebound effect" that I've heard so much about here. I believe a rest is in order, but I don't want to go nuts on my diet. I KNOW I'm going to want to eat everything in sight. I haven't eaten in a restaurant in months ...

Any suggestions? What's a good way to ensure I don't blow up like the Hindenburg. I want to switch to gaining LBM, but how quickly do you introduce so many extra calories?

Want to have a good plan long before the comp.

 

[Sassy69]

You're right on with the R&R from the gym for a while - by the time you've gone thru the depletions and re-carb and all-around stress of a show, your body deserves a break. Definitely take a week off from the gym. The hardest part I found was that the gym is such a big part of my life, it screws me up to NOT go in - its just part of my habit. If you want to go in, just do some light cardio and enjoy watching people around you grunt it out for a few nights.

Diet-wise - you are probably finding out that you have a growing intolerance for anything that ISN"T on your pre-comp diet. This includes dairy and extra carbs. You can chow the night of your show (after, of course) and the following day. Then just go back to your general training diet, keep the carbs low and watch the salt to avoid blowing up. If you load carbs you will DEFINITELY start retaining water and feel like shit. Then slowly introduce carbs back into your diet - just like I generally preach about any change in your diet - do it over like a 3 week period to let your body adjust without rebounding.

Don't get too impatient to move on to your next goal (gaining LBM) - your body will tell you when its ready to move on. There is so much involved with pre-show and post-show, both physically and emotionally- just give yourself a chance to recover. Its weird - post-show can be such an anti-climax (no more 2 hrs of cardio, training like a mofo, thinking of nothing but your show date) that it can actually be depressing!

 

[new@gettinbig]

Take a nice week off from the gym....relax...I agree w/ sassy's post 100%...the night after the show and the next day is fine...eat...but after that watch it...your body is at a low bodyfat...it will put on fat quickly if you dont watch it...go back to eating clean and maybe having 1 junk meal every few days etc...also drink tons of water....so u dont retain water and feel like shit...i usually end up feeling sick...body isnt used to all that junk food...how long till your show??

 

[MS]

In Steel's case, I don't think her body will have too many probs handling junk food LOL. But a training break is good. I actually believe your body will be more anabolic if you also give it a 1-2 week diet break and eat whatever you feel like. Yes you'll blow up from the carbs and sodium, but I think you'll find very little of the calories go to fat, and that your metabolism will get reset to high very quickly. Geesh, it's only water, and a fully hydrated muscle is an anabolic muscle. You can lose all the fluid in a couple of days if it really bugs ya (just ask spats!).

But after the holiday, get back on clean eating and train harder than ever. I promise you'll grow (and I don't mean you'll get fat).

 

[Sassy69]

I'll second MS's post.

The only thing I can say about loading junk is that when you start retaining water to the point that you think your legs are going to explode, it just isn't real comfortable. Keep the diet clean and just ease back into your carbs. And listen to your body as far as how much recovery time it needs!

 

[SteelWeaver]

In Steel's case, I don't think her body will have too many probs handling junk food LOL.

Tee hee

The frequency of it might be a problem, though, lol.

The only thing I can say about loading junk is that when you start retaining water to the point that you think your legs are going to explode

Holy shit!

BTW Sassy - love your avatar!

 

[SteelWeaver]

Oh, New@

5 and a half weeks and counting





Bit of a roller-coaster.

 

[Sassy69]

Good luck Steel! Can hardly wait for the trophy shots!

I recall you said you couldn't use tanning stuff in your show? (I think...) How are you dealing with that? How about posing routine, music, your posing suit? Are you doing a 60 sec non-music routine in the morning and then 90 sec at night with music?
What are your stats now? What class do you plan to compete in? Love to hear all the details!


Thx regarding the avatar -- time to retire my kitty's portrait....

 

[SteelWeaver]

Thanks Sassy. Ha ha! Me too! I'll especially get one with the free bag of protein! lol

Yeah, you're right about the tanning stuff - silly venue rules. In fact, they're so uptight about it that I have to get special permission to re-apply cover-up make-up to my tattoos if necessary. They don't wanna see anything that even resembles body colour. If they do, you're out. Grr. I'm tanning, it's coming in nicely, then I'll put a few layers of self tanner over that, and make sure I'm very well moisturised to at least get a sense of shine on stage (along with the sweat!). I'm gonna try it this weeked to see how dark it goes.

Yeah, I'm not sure about the 60 sec one - I think that's in, have to double-check. Anyway, I'll just cut the auxiliary poses and any frilly stuff (not that I'm a frilly type, but you know, extras) from the 90 sec routine and rewire the transitions to make the 60 one. Someone's gonna check over everything for me next week.

No weight classes - I don't think there are enough women for classes! I'll be sure to be in the top ten!

My stats right now - no clue - my water weight changes constantly, and I don't have any caliper measurements. Haven't done any girth measurements, but all my pants are falling off, and I don't need a bra anymore. And I've got veins in my arms, which I rather like the look of.

 

[Arioch]

Okay, since I know next to nothing about BB comp, I have a question. Is there any way to take advantage of the anabolic rebound that should be there after you have starved yourself down to nothing for the comp? Has anyone done this?

I am hoping W6 will see this and kick in.